Norv: Don't expect the Chargers to make the playoffs next season

I didn't read Norvs last interview as a cut on the players and AJ did have final say on talent other than the final roster. You can't build a house of brick if all you have is straw and sticks to work with. Meachem just couldn't get the x's & o's down coming from a trash and dash system, it didn't look like he can read a defense. Royal was a MASH unit unto himself and seemed to drop as many balls as he caught. The O-line is indescribable, maybe Harris' baptism by fire gave him a head start on next year but that remains to be seen. Hopefully whatever is left in the deep freeze, Dombo, Schilling and the Trout under the right guidance might be useful come next season.

Defense I don't see as needing as much rework, SILB, one CB and a SS in addition to the foundation and they should be able to run with the big dogs. Of course this is taking into account the offense can sustain some drives and score TD's. Limit giveaways and some of the back to back penalties committed when in scoring position and killing even a FG attempt. Their first year under Pags has been better than the three prior years and they are young and still have a high ceiling above them.

With the right GM and HC, I can't see them getting much worse than last year and I'm sure they can get better and compete. Who knows, with the right tweaks a strong push can lead to a wildcard spot with parity and injuries all being equal.

The Chargers basically need 4 new starters on the line (LT,G,C,RT). Two of them might be on the roster already (Harris at RT, Molk at C), and we can probably add a LT to start while keeping Gaither on the roster as a back-up (or the other way around). We could stand improvement at the TE position, and we need depth at CB. Other than that, this team is good to go. Our front 7 needs no real work whatsoever, except maybe to add another passrusher, with that being a luxury acquisition, rather than a desperate need. We could probably sign any RB off the street who can hold onto the ball if we can just get some road graders at guard or an OC willing to adopt a ZB scheme.

I think that the bottom line with Norv's viewpoint is that this team is far away from being in the playoffs in the context of being able to get there using his scheme. I think that a HC/OC who actually fits his scheme to our personnel would likely find the task less impossible.

I didn't read Norvs last interview as a cut on the players and AJ did have final say on talent other than the final roster. You can't build a house of brick if all you have is straw and sticks to work with. Meachem just couldn't get the x's & o's down coming from a trash and dash system, it didn't look like he can read a defense. Royal was a MASH unit unto himself and seemed to drop as many balls as he caught. The O-line is indescribable, maybe Harris' baptism by fire gave him a head start on next year but that remains to be seen. Hopefully whatever is left in the deep freeze, Dombo, Schilling and the Trout under the right guidance might be useful come next season.

Defense I don't see as needing as much rework, SILB, one CB and a SS in addition to the foundation and they should be able to run with the big dogs. Of course this is taking into account the offense can sustain some drives and score TD's. Limit giveaways and some of the back to back penalties committed when in scoring position and killing even a FG attempt. Their first year under Pags has been better than the three prior years and they are young and still have a high ceiling above them.

With the right GM and HC, I can't see them getting much worse than last year and I'm sure they can get better and compete. Who knows, with the right tweaks a strong push can lead to a wildcard spot with parity and injuries all being equal.

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As far as the bold goes, we might even have one or both of them on the roster already.

Really? That strikes me as an awfully myopic statement, a low hanging fruit statement if you will. I would say the OL was the biggest reason. While arguably that can be traced to AJ, there is no way that AJ could have predicted that Gather would have the issues he did. He ignored the OL all too often in the draft.

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The OL was a huge problem, but that was created by AJ, and AJ is responsible for not providing even an OK backup to Gaither who has had injuries and laziness issues and for not providing anyone worth a crap at LG and continuing to ride the Clary wagon at RT. So although the OL was the biggest on field problem, that problem was a result of AJ failing to do an adequate job. So yes, AJ and Norv were the 2 biggest issues because nearly all other issues are a result of their failures

Why? Who says he cant tell it as it is? I think the people complaining about Norv's 'pot shots' should read the article again. He is asking the fans to have realistic expectation for the next regiem. That is a classy move. He has been impacted by this roster more than anyone else. What is the problem with him saying 'dont be upset if they dont make the playoffs next year'?

Then again, most people here would be offended even if Norv simply said, so long and thanks for all the fishes.

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I was speaking more in general terms there than I was specifically about this quote.

I should have specified that a little better.

People seem to be of the belief that just because something is the truth that it means it's fine to state it anywhere and everywhere. That's not always the case. It probably is here, though.

As for the rest, I don't think it's as unrealistic as Norv states it is that this team can make the playoffs next year.

Norv is right. But this is also part of the reason he should've been fired. He allowed it to happen and kept his mouth shut. He is too nice to be a Head Coach in the NFL.

While AJ was f--king things up in negotiations, Norv should've been rocking the boat publicly and letting Dean know this was killing his organization. But that's not Norv's style. So he leaves with the respect of the players, coaches, and executives... but not the fans.

I think he's comfortable with that. And at some point he'll be the OC on a team that ends up thumping the Chargers. And he'll smile big.

My question would be, did AJ actually ignore the O-line or was he lead down the wrong path by Norv and company? If Norv and his coaching staff were telling AJ that the O-line was fine then what is AJ to do?

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AJ explained it earlier this year. He felt that Gaither backed up by Dombrowski was the way to go.
AJ clearly screwed the pooch on that one.

You know , listening to this BS from Norv makes me laugh. If Norv had any kind of nuts at all he would have been in AJs office demanding players and maybe questioning some of the moves and draft choices. But not Norv. He is such a milquetoast that he just sat quietly and watched it all happen. I put it all on AJ at this point. AJ hires a know toady/ yes man to be his coach and then walks all over him, just like everyone thought he would. We all said when Norv was hired that he would be a pantywaist and he was.

But now Norv standing there and telling us all tht the team has run dry of talent... Well... No sh1t Sherlock. Why is it tat you never spoke up Norv and demanded real talent for tis team instead of sitting there with your lips locked and silent?

You know , listening to this BS from Norv makes me laugh. If Norv had any kind of nuts at all he would have been in AJs office demanding players and maybe questioning some of the moves and draft choices. But not Norv. He is such a milquetoast that he just sat quietly and watched it all happen. I put it all on AJ at this point. AJ hires a know toady/ yes man to be his coach and then walks all over him, just like everyone thought he would. We all said when Norv was hired that he would be a pantywaist and he was.

But now Norv standing there and telling us all tht the team has run dry of talent... Well... No sh1t Sherlock. Why is it tat you never spoke up Norv and demanded real talent for tis team instead of sitting there with your lips locked and silent?

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How the **** do you know what Norv said to AJ? Do you have some special knowledge of their working relationship?

Norv's gone and good riddance. Who really gives a crap what he thinks now? IF he thought the team was so low on talent why didn't the guy say or do something? Nope- he kept his mouth shut- proving he was nothing but AJs "yes man".
Nothing stinks of sour grapes worse than pooping on your GM on the way out the door. It doesn't take much in the nuts department to bad mouth your boss on the way out the door. When he should have said something- when it could have made a difference - he was quieter than the Sphinx on a hot Egyptian summer day.

Norv's gone and good riddance. Who really gives a crap what he thinks now? IF he thought the team was so low on talent why didn't the guy say or do something? Nope- he kept his mouth shut- proving he was nothing but AJs "yes man".
Nothing stinks of sour grapes worse than pooping on your GM on the way out the door. It doesn't take much in the nuts department to bad mouth your boss on the way out the door. When he should have said something- when it could have made a difference - he was quieter than the Sphinx on a hot Egyptian summer day.

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I'd hazard to say that you haven't a clue what Norv did, or did not, say to AJ......... no ******* clue.

Norv Turner has heard people say the Chargers are a quick fix, that they're close to solving their roster issues, that this three-year playoff drought can end next year.

He's heard people expect the 2013 Chargers to make the playoffs.

His message in his final San Diego media conference: don't.

Turner was fired Monday, and afterward, he discussed the overall deficiencies he sees in the roster and the work that lies ahead.

"Someone wrote a few weeks ago that this team is not that far away from the playoffs," Turner said. "I would disagree. I know the things that would have to get done for that to happen. If this team comes next year and they get some things done to help them get better and are able to make the playoffs, I would hope it would be a surprise to all the Chargers fans, and they would be excited about it.

"I would hope it would not be the expectation starting in August because I think you need to give whoever the guy who comes in here and the group he brings in some time to get back this thing back to where it was."

San Diego made the playoffs in Turner's first three seasons as head coach before being shut out the past three.

Turner said he thinks the Chargers were the most talented team in the AFC West those first three seasons and not the most talented team in the most recent.

"We've had too many changes," Turner said. "We've lost too many people."

Turner referenced his first head coaching tenure with the Redskins.

Washington made the playoffs in 1999, his sixth year there, going 10-6 and winning in the wild-card round before losing in the divisional. Turner was fired 13 games into the 2000 season with a 7-6 record.

The Redskins have made the playoffs three times since, in 2005, 2007 and 2012.

"And they thought they had Super Bowl talent in 2000," Turner said. "...Every team thinks they have the best team. I think the lesson I know, and I've known it for a long time, evaluate your own players; keep your best best players. Evaluate your own players and understand who can and who can't."There aren't any quick fixes. Free agency is not the way to go. It's to supplement. You have to draft well, and you have to keep your best players."

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If Norv & his incompetence were still coaching the Bolts, he would be correct in his assertion that this team was nowhere close to being a legitimate playoff contender - instead, here we are, knocking at the door and we just might get the help we need, & kick that door in on Sunday. If we do make it in, we’ll be a team that no one will want to play.

Even if we don’t get in, we’ll probably win anyway and finish at 9-7, completing our 1st winning season in 3 years.
What a difference a year (and a decent coach) makes!

If Norv & his incompetence were still coaching the Bolts, he would be correct in his assertion that this team was nowhere close to being a legitimate playoff contender - instead, here we are, knocking at the door and we just might get the help we need, & kick that door in on Sunday. If we do make it in, we’ll be a team that no one will want to play.

Even if we don’t get in, we’ll probably win anyway and finish at 9-7, completing our 1st winning season in 3 years.
What a difference a year (and a decent coach) makes!

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Lets not forget AJ's part....... what a difference a good draft class makes. Norv's main complaint was the loss of talent over the years..... that's why he asked fans to be patient. He knew it would take time to rebuild the roster.

Luckily, Telesco has shown good evaluation skills, so far. Of course, AJ hit a few early on as well......... then it was straight downhill.

Uh huh, I'll take that weak banter to mean you don't actually have an intelligent response.

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"banter" is never used in an intelligent response...Neither is "weak" or "butt hurt". I'm not bluffing when I say you are too stupid for this conversation; the only thing you have left is to say I'm mean.

It doesn't make sense to me to place blame on Norv OR A.J.. The latter dropped the ball on the acquisition and retaining of talented players, and the former did a poor job putting what guys he did have in a position to succeed.

Lets not forget AJ's part....... what a difference a good draft class makes. Norv's main complaint was the loss of talent over the years..... that's why he asked fans to be patient. He knew it would take time to rebuild the roster.

Luckily, Telesco has shown good evaluation skills, so far. Of course, AJ hit a few early on as well......... then it was straight downhill.

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This is it in a nutshell.

While I was happy to see Norv go to some extent I actually wouldn't have hated it too much if we kept him but still replaced AJ.

Norval had his drawbacks but AJ was the real problem.

That being said, if you're going to take down your GM it's probably best to go ahead and overhaul the staff as well.

"banter" is never used in an intelligent response...Neither is "weak" or "butt hurt". I'm not bluffing when I say you are too stupid for this conversation; the only thing you have left is to say I'm mean.

It doesn't make sense to me to place blame on Norv OR A.J.. The latter dropped the ball on the acquisition and retaining of talented players, and the former did a poor job putting what guys he did have in a position to succeed.

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In a team sport....forget that, in any organization that takes a team to run the blame never EVER falls squarely on the foot of one person.

However, I'd say that in the overall scheme of things AJ owns the largest piece of the pie. Norval showed he can take this team to the brink of a Super Bowl and only get cut short after his HOF RB and star QB both get hurt (one playing through it while the other could not).

I'm no Norval apologist but I still think we could win with him if he's given the right talent, which he eventually didn't have enough of.